Possible significance of licking of anogenital region by female rat in the initial steps of precopulatory behaviour was studied in short bouts of 3 min each. The order of conspicuous events was--(1) exploratory behaviour, (2) partners pursuing each other, (3) head-to-tail orientation and mutual licking of anogenital regions; particularly when females were in oestrous and metoestrous stages and (4) obvious avoidance and even aggressive behaviour by female during dioestrous stage
